Our Guide to QR Codes
QR codes are an effective and cost-efficient way for businesses to reach their target audience. By scanning a QR code, customers can access product information, coupons, discounts, and other promotional offers. Additionally, QR codes can be used to track customer engagement with the company’s products and services.
With the help of QR codes, small businesses can easily build their brand image and increase their customer base. Moreover, using QR codes is a great way for businesses to save time and money on marketing campaigns as they do not require any extra effort or resources from the business owner.
Static or Dynamic
We supply two types of QR codes; static and dynamic.
Static QR Codes
Static QR codes encode YOUR URL* directly in the QR code. They are permanent, meaning they will work as long as your website URL doesn’t change. Statics cannot be changed as the URL is encoded directly in the QR Code. They give unlimited scans as long as your webpage is live. We cannot provide tracking with static codes.
Dynamic QR Codes
Our Dynamic QR Code service uses a URL hosting service. This enables the target URL to be changed repeatedly in the future if you require it. Scans are unlimited so long as you don’t abuse the QR code with millions of scans that cause technical problems, such as crashed servers. They function for life: The Dynamic QR Code, with its redirection capability, will function FREE for two years and will continue to function after that for as long as you pay a bi-annual fee of $30 for the hosting. Dynamic QR codes can be redirected at any time in the future. On initial purchase, you specify a target URL. After that, you can ask us to redirect the target URL as often as you wish, at a fee of $10 for each redirection. Tracking is available with our dynamic QR code. For more information on tracking, please see TRACKING REPORTS.
*URL is the abbreviation for uniform (or universal) resource locator, i.e. a webpage.
Advantages of Dynamic QR codes
There are a number of advantages to dynamic codes.
- The same code can be used to point to different webpages
- Can be printed smaller as the redirection URL can be shorter than the landing page URL
- More flexibility as you can print the dynamic QR code, then link it after or ‘turn it off’.
- Can track data.
| Static QR code | Dynamic QR code |
| encodes your URL* directly in the QR code | via URL hosting service such as https://myqro.pro but goes to your URL. |
| always works as long as your URL is live and doesn’t change. | always works, as the landing URL can be altered at any time. |
| can’t be changed, as the URL is encoded directly in the QR Code, | the landing URL can be changed repeatedly in the future on payment of the redirection fee. |
| unlimited scans | unlimited scans |
| customizable to add logos, colour etc. | customizable to add logos, colour etc. |
| can have other functions, e.g. v business cards, send an email or SMS message etc. | cannot encode complex data. Just encodes a URL. |
| functions for life | our dynamic QR code function FREE for two years and will continue to function with a small bi-annual fee. |
| cannot track data | tracks data such as how many scans, devices and country. |
Scan the two QR codes below to see how a static shows the final URL, whereas a dynamic shows the redirection URL but lands on your final URL.
What size can I print my QR code?
The size of your QR code depends on how you want to use it and what it’s being printed on. It will need to be much larger if printed on a billboard compared to on a business card. Generally, the larger the code, the easier it is for customers to scan it with their device.
The smallest recommended size for a QR code is 2.5cm x 2.5cm, although you can try them smaller. The more data they encode, the more pixelated they are and hence do not cope well when reduced in size.
It’s also important to consider how far away customers will be from your code when they’re trying to scan it. If they’re too far away, they may not be able to get a good scan.
Test the QR code at different sizes first (on paper) till you are confident with the size.
The ideal scanning size-to-distance ratio is 10:1
QR Code Size Calculator:
QR Code Width or Length = (Distance from Code)/10
What size should QR codes be on a business card?
On a business card, 2cm x 2cm is standard. However, this depends on the amount of data encoded. You can always make it bigger. We don’t recommend going smaller as it may make your QR code unscannable.
Do QR codes have to be black and white?
QR codes need contrast for the scanners to see the difference between the darker and lighter spaces. Insufficient contrast (i.e. very light colours such as pastel colours) may be too light for the scanner to see. The more contrast, the better.
If your brand colour is light, you can check using an online colour contrast tool. For example https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
The minimum contrast ratio recommended is 4:1.
Always test your QR code before printing.
Other Types of QR Codes
We produce many customised and standard QR codes. We can also make other types of QR Codes at your request, including the following;
- V Business Card
- Make a Phone Call
- Send an Email or SMS
- Facebook Profiles (or Likes)
- Linkedin Profiles (or Share)
- Twitter Profiles
- Restaurant Menus
- Android Market Publisher/Package
- Wi-Fi Access Points.
Click here for a standard black & white QR code (static or dynamic).
Click here for a customised (colour, logo etc.) QR code (static or dynamic.).
Click here for a V Business Card.
Click here for a GS1 QR code.
“This experience has been the most efficient & cost-effective online purchase I have ever had. Outstanding! Adding a QR Code to my business cards has been a wonderful addition to the professionalism of my new business venture. Thank you.” Annie
QR Code Barcode